Restoring agricultural production after natural disasters

In recent days, prolonged heavy rains have caused serious flooding in many residential areas and key vegetable and flower growing areas of Lam Dong province, leading to heavy damage. After the flood receded, along with cleaning their homes and the environment, farmers in the province actively went to the fields to prepare for the new crop.

In Ka Do commune, as soon as the water level of the Da Nhim river receded, Mr. Bui Van Ca in Tan Lap village took the opportunity to clean up his lettuce and mustard green garden that was covered with mud, duckweed, and trash. Mr. Ca said that the flood on the night of November 19 was the most terrifying he had ever witnessed. His family's entire 1.2 hectares of short-term crops were swept away by the flood, including the lettuce garden that had been purchased by traders in advance. "Now that the water has receded, I'm taking the opportunity to clean up the garden to start over. With this situation, it will take at least a month to improve the soil, replace equipment, and then start planting for the new crop," Mr. Ca shared.

In the same Ka Do commune, Mr. Le Van Thang's family suffered about 200 million VND in damage, with the net house of nearly 3,500 m² alone being swept away by the flood, the iron frame tilted, and the roof buried in mud. Not to mention all the vegetables inside were flooded and swept away. He is currently trying to reuse part of the old frame, hire repairmen, and reinstall the irrigation system to soon restore production.

According to preliminary statistics, in Ka Do commune alone, more than 500 hectares of crops were flooded or completely washed away; more than 30 hectares of net houses were swept away by floods, and nearly 10 hectares of greenhouses were damaged. The total estimated damage was nearly 500 billion VND in agricultural production, housing and transport infrastructure. Chairman of the People's Committee Nguyen Huu Chi said: "Many gardens were completely lost, so people had great difficulty in reproducing. Therefore, the commune proposed that banks have plans to extend and freeze debts for affected households, and at the same time have policies to support people in accessing loans for reproducing in the coming time."

In D'Ran commune, floods damaged more than 1,320 hectares of crops and perennial trees, hundreds of houses, many roads and irrigation works; total damage was also more than 500 billion VND. Local authorities and officers and soldiers of Military Region 7 are actively supporting people to overcome the consequences.

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Truong Quang Kien commune said: "We encourage people in high areas to plant early to stabilize the supply. With low-lying areas temporarily cleaned up, waiting for the rain to stop, they will produce short-term vegetables in time for the year-end crop and the upcoming Lunar New Year. At the same time, the locality is developing a plan to request the Provincial People's Committee to support losses in vegetable and livestock production so that farmers can soon recover production."

Meanwhile, in Hiep Thanh commune, hundreds of hectares of vegetables and flowers were damaged by the floods in late October and early November. When the water receded, people immediately started to improve the land and restore production. Mr. Vo Tien Huy, Director of Tien Huy Cooperative, said that the cooperative is cooperating with farmers to produce many types of vegetables on an area of nearly 40 hectares. The recent floods have damaged many gardens, reducing the market supply by 30%. Currently, members are focusing on improving the flooded area to soon restore production.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong province, the recent floods have caused great damage to the province's agricultural production areas, directly affecting the growth, development and productivity of crops. Initial statistics show that from November 17 to December 2, the whole province had more than 4,570 hectares of crops affected and damaged, including 4,439 hectares of vegetables and rice, and 130 hectares of perennial crops.

Some localities suffered heavy damage such as D'Ran and Ka Do communes; Quang Lap commune lost more than 205 hectares, Don Duong commune lost 100 hectares, Duc Trong commune lost 180 hectares, Quang Phu commune lost more than 300 hectares. Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong province Nguyen Ha Loc said that recently, specialized agencies have implemented many drastic and synchronous solutions such as environmental treatment, disinfection of barns, disease control; at the same time, guiding people to restore land, clear canals to prepare for new crop production. Up to now, localities in the province have basically overcome and treated about 4,215 hectares out of a total of 4,570 hectares of affected and damaged crops.

To overcome and limit the damage, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong province recommends that localities continue to guide people to implement solutions to restore production according to the industry's recommendations. For flooded vegetable areas, it is necessary to check the garden and harvest areas that are still harvestable. At the same time, destroy damaged crops, clear drainage ditches, plow and dry the soil, combine lime application, and use appropriate biological products to improve the soil environment. Then, prepare the land to replant short-term vegetables to compensate for output and meet market demand.

For vegetable areas that can still recover, it is necessary to urgently clear the flow and drain water from the garden; use biological products to prevent root rot and wilt; re-erect fallen trees, lightly fertilize with superphosphate and add foliar fertilizers and trace elements to stimulate new roots, helping plants recover quickly after flooding. Localities also need to increase monitoring and proactively prevent pests that may arise after flooding.

With the joint efforts of the entire political system, armed forces, agencies, organizations and the people's spirit of overcoming difficulties, agricultural production in Lam Dong is recovering day by day after the historic flood.

Article and photos: LE GIANG NAM

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/khoi-phuc-san-xuat-nong-nghiep-sau-thien-tai-408239.html